Sand & Gravel Mining in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld

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Despite severe contractions during the recession, the industry has already begun to climb out of its trough. The recovery in the housing construction market will support the industry's expansion throughout the next five years. Growth in the non-residential market will also boost demand for the industry's products. Governmental infrastructure investment, though, is expected to slow. With profit margins growing, many operators will become vertically integrated, which will limit the number of new companies entering the industry. For these reasons, industry research firm IBISWorld has added a report on the Sand & Gravel Mining industry to its growing industry report collection.

IBISWorld Market Research

A sharp decline in housing construction in 2007 provoked a steep drop in revenue

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB)June 23, 2012

Sand, gravel and clay are the essential ingredients for many building products. The Sand and Gravel Mining industry principally mines and undertakes basic processing of sand and gravel used for construction aggregate and industrial applications. The industry also undertakes the extraction and primary processing of clay and refractory products for use in downstream manufacturing applications. The volume of domestic production of sand and gravel is expected to amount to 828 million metric tons in 2012, declining at an average annual rate of 7.9% over the five years to 2012, largely due to the collapse and continued weakness of the US construction market, according to IBISWorld industry analyst Brian Bueno. Revenue is expected to grow 5.9% in 2012 to total $8.2 billion, but it remains far below revenue of $9.7 billion generated in 2007. The slump in downstream construction markets from 2007 through 2009 negatively affected demand for construction aggregates and as materials for building products. Weak demand resulted in a steep revenue drop of 22.4% in 2009 after a fall of 11.1% in 2008. Despite growth between 2010 and 2012, industry revenue is expected to have declined at an annualized rate of 3.2% over the five years to 2012. The dramatic deterioration of housing construction since 2007 reduced demand for a range of building materials. Solid growth conditions in the infrastructure and non-residential building markets partly buoyed the demand for construction materials over the past five years. However, demand from these markets could not sufficiently offset the decline in the housing market and the downstream manufacturing industries.

Over the five years to 2017, Sand and Gravel mining industry revenue is forecast to rise. The demand for clay and refractory materials is projected to continue to deteriorate in several downstream manufacturing industries, Bueno says. However, this will be offset by stronger demand in both the downstream housing market in the latter part of the five-year period and in the highway and bridge construction market as the US economy strengthens. The industry has a low level of concentration, with the four largest players accounting for about a third of industry revenue. Most of the industry is made up of smaller firms, as it is difficult to acquire the vast amounts of capital required to set up a network of facilities serving multiple geographic markets necessary to capture a large market share. More than half of industry establishments employ fewer than 10 people. The leading players in this industry operate multiple establishments across many geographic markets.

Over the five years to 2012, the total number of enterprises is projected to fall. There has been a notable trend toward increased concentration of ownership in the past decade with several medium- to large-scale players acquiring the operations of competitors to establish or strengthen their position in regional markets. This consolidation activity has occurred during periods of relative industry growth, and has been largely confined to mergers and acquisitions rather than industry exit. Therefore, the number of establishments has grown as enterprises have fallen because they were typically acquired by other firms and have remained in operation. The 10 largest companies producing construction sand and gravel (including the operations of the US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, or BLM) supply almost half of the nation’s sand and gravel.

This industry comprises firms involved in mining and quarrying sand (construction and industrial) and gravel, along with clays, ceramic and refractory minerals. Industry activity may include the beneficiation of these minerals by washing, screening and otherwise preparing the mined sand, gravel and clays.

About IBISWorld Inc.
Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.